Fortner Wins Coal Cracker
Smacker Hard Enduro
M
ark Fortner claimed the over-
all victory at the Coal Cracker
Smacker, the final round of the
2026 AMA East Hard Enduro Re-
gional Championship, presented
by Klim, at Rausch Creek Off-Road
Park in Good Spring, Pennsylvania,
October 24-25.
The Reading Off-Road Riders
hosted the second annual event,
featuring a 12-mile course with
rocky climbs, creekbeds, steep
hillsides and faster single-track
sections.
Maverik Thaxton took the early
lead before Tobin Miller moved
to the front. Fortner, who started
third, passed Miller on a hillclimb
on the opening lap and held the
lead for the rest of the race.
"Tobin and I were on a hill and
I was able to get around him.
After that, I just went as fast as I
could," Fortner said.
Despite dealing with a steam-
ing motorcycle and loose skid
plate during the second lap,
Fortner completed the race in
two hours, 57 minutes and five
seconds, finishing four minutes
and 56 seconds ahead of Logan
Bolopue.
"I haven't had a win in years.
I'm stoked for it," Fortner said. "It
was a perfect day."
Bolopue finished second
despite racing with a borrowed
stock rear shock after his own
shock failed the day before the
event. He completed the race in
3:02:01.
Miller recovered from an
opening-lap mistake to finish
third, 58 seconds behind Bo-
lopue. Coran Calvert took fourth,
followed by Ayden Marinchek
and Jarrett Mohn.
Alex Myers, a National MotoTri-
als competitor making his third
hard enduro appearance, finished
seventh. Drew Fortner was eighth,
WIND
IN THE
P58
Beta rider Mark Fortner
won the Coal Cracker
Smacker Hard Enduro.
PHOTOS: STEPH VETTERLY
